Better Than Delivery!

From p. 20 of the September/October 2008 Issue of Simple & Delicious

Family-Pleasing Pizza Meal

As a volunteer for the American Heart Association, Judy Sellgren of Wyoming, Michigan always seems to put others first. In fact, those who know her best would probably tell you that for Judy, cooking is as much an act of looking after friends and family as it is of feeding them.

"I typically make dinner for my husband, John, and myself, but we really enjoy having our kids and two grandchildren over, too," she says. "I also help out with preparing dinners at church and for funerals."

No matter how many people she's serving, Judy tries to tailor her menu to suit their tastes. Actually, many of her family's favorite recipes have come from friends.

"I truly can't remember who gave me the recipe for Family-Pleasing Pizza," Judy says. "But I've used this quick recipe for unexpected company or as a busy weekend meal for years. You can add whatever fresh veggies you have on hand."

Bacon and chow mein noodles bring lively crunch to her refreshing Tangy Spinach Salad. "I made this for two of my best girlfriends and they loved it. One still fixes it regularly for her husband!"

Top off the meal with sweet and creamy Cake with Pineapple Pudding, which has just five ingredients. "This recipe was given to me by a dear friend," Judy says. "It's so light and refreshing. I frequently take it to church luncheons."

These easy recipes from Judy—and some of her friends—are sure to be hit with you and yours!

Judy's Tips

YUM!: "We like to thinly slice sweet onions and add them to the pizza with the tomatoes," Judy says.

EASY TO ASSEMBLE: "Make prep easier by cleaning the spinach and slicing tomatoes for this meal ahead of time," Judy advises. "Store each ingredient in a resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator until you're ready for it. You can also make the salad dressing ahead. Just refrigerate and shake before serving."

LIGHTEN UP: "I've tried this cake with sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix. It tastes just as good but saves a few calories," says Judy.

Here's the plan:

Cook the sausage and melt butter for the pizza. While the sausage cooks, prepare the easy crust.

Slice the tomatoes for the pizza; then assemble and bake the pizza.

While the pizza bakes, prepare the dessert topping and place it in the fridge. Fix the salad and prepare the dressing.

Top cake slices with the pineapple pudding and remove the pizza from the oven and serve.

This tastes great as is, but can easily be adapted to fit your family's preferences. “I use this quick recipe for unexpected company or as a busy weekend meal. Add whatever fresh veggies you have on hand.” Judy Sellgren - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bacon and chow mein noodles bring lively crunch to this refreshing salad. “I made this for two of my best girlfriends and they loved it. One even served it to her husband for weeks!” Judy Sellgren - Grand Rapids, Michigan